Teaching physiology to biomedical engineers: Challenges and innovations - A panel discussion

One of the greatest challenges in the education of a biomedical engineer, from the standpoint of both the student and the faculty member, is in the area of physiology. Biomedical engineers view the physiological functions of the body in quantitative terms - chemical, mechanical, and electrical processes that can be explained through engineering models. However, students often have a difficult time integrating the mathematical and biological languages in order to understand physiology from this perspective. Some students may not have had previous in-depth exposure to the life sciences, or that exposure may have been several years ago. Other students may find it challenging to understand processes that they cannot visualize - ones that occur on a molecular-scale. The challenge for a faculty member is to develop course materials that address the differences in student background and learning styles so as to increase all students' understanding of this very important subject in biomedical engineering. This panel discussion will feature biomedical engineering educators who have developed innovative learning materials to meet this challenge.